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One-Handed Ratchet Tool with Cutter
For ¼″ x .015″ – ¾″ x .030″ Strapping
|Steel with Vinyl Coated Handle
Phone: 800-274-6271
Fax: 800-279-6897
- All
- Brackets
- Buckles
- Strapping
- Wing Seals
One-Handed Ratchet Tool with Cutter
The one-handed ratchet tool for stainless steel strapping provides a quick and easy way to install banding around poles and pipes. Use with ¼″ to ¾″ wide strapping.
- Measure out enough stainless-steel strapping to go around the pole including an extra 12″ or so of slack.
- Insert one end of the strapping into your straight leg sign mounting bracket.
- Insert the same end into your buckle or wing seal and bend about 2″ to 3″ of strapping underneath the wing seal or buckle.
- Wrap the strapping around the pole and slide the other end of the strapping through the buckle or wing seal and bend it back so that the strapping stays in place.
- Tighten the strapping down with the strapping tool, making sure that the tool is against the wing seal or buckle during this step.
- Once the strapping is tight, bend the strapping with the tool to hold the tension and use the cutter to cut off the excess strapping.
- Fold the excess strapping over the buckle or wing seal and hammer down the wings to secure the strapping
- Repeat these steps to install the second band of strapping.
Strapping being inserted
Strapping being inserted
The other end of the strapping
Strapping tool Y3533 tightening and then cutting the strapping around the pole
Using the Ratchet tool cut the excess strapping
Bend the strapping over the buckle or wing seal to partially secure the strapping


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hello glad i found this site
Hi, MikeBoogie!! nice to meet you!
Hey, people, it's nice to see new faces. What's up ? Are you political animals maybe .. hehe
We need some anti trumper people .. most here are quite conservative
Bottom line.. we need someone to argue with hehe
Forum Rules

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A hugely popular attraction in the Bavarian Swabia region, Augsburg Zoo is located within easy reach of Augsburg city centre, beside the botanical gardens and on the northern fringes of the Siebentischwald woods.
More than 2,000 animals, from all over the world and representing over 350 species, live in around 22 child-friendly hectares at Augsburg Zoo.
There is so much to discover on an animal expedition in this park-like urban zoo: fur seals splashing around as they are fed, a vigilant pride of lions at the entrance, free-roaming peacocks, proudly displaying their feathers and always on the hunt for a treat, the feisty capuchin monkeys and the curious meerkats. You can see penguins swimming, watch giraffes eating and count the stripes on the zebras. Visitors young and old will be enchanted by this beautiful zoo. It has everything an animal lover could ever wish for, from the lion to the zebra, from the elephant to the hummingbird. In the big cat enclosure you can marvel at lions and tigers, and admire other special residents such as the striped hyena and the rare Persian leopard in the new enclosure. There is also a special rocky habitat for wild goat-antelopes including the East Caucasian tur, the markhor, the ibex and the mountain goat. In the tropical glasshouse you'll discover the flora and fauna of the tropical rainforests.
The three-hectare Africa panorama at the heart of the zoo is home to all kinds of different animals, including giraffes, zebras, antelopes and Ankole longhorn cattle. The bear enclosure and the seal feedings are also very popular. Children aged six and above can hear lots of exciting and amusing stories about Augsburg Zoo and its animals on a special guided tour. Along the way, they are given examples of fur, eggs, feathers, skin and hair to touch and smell, while the chance to watch a zookeeper at work provides the highlight of the tour. A ride around the children's zoo on the train is lots of fun in summer. Kids will also love the adorable baby animals and, of course, the petting zoo and adventure playground.
放大: +
缩小: +


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Kansas to Participate in "Wanna Go Fishing for Millions?" Promotion
OutdoorHub 04.19.12
The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) will participate again this year in Cabela's Wanna Go Fishing for Millions? promotion by tagging fish at certain public lakes around the state. The competition begins May 5, at which time the lakes will be announced to the general public. The contest gives anglers a a chance to win as much as $2 million in cash and more than $225,000 in additional prizes by catching tagged fish in select lakes across 19 states. In 2011, 143 winning fish were caught nationwide, and Kansas anglers led the nation with 26 tagged fish caught.
Anglers are encouraged to register ahead of time beginning today. Cabela's will release the list of participating lakes before the contest begins to those who pre-register by April 30. Only registered anglers may participate in the contest. In addition, anglers must comply with applicable Kansas fishing regulations, licensing, and permit requirements.
Cabela's, Outdoor Channel, Wanna Go Fishing TV, and Geico are teaming up for this year's contest. The premise is simple: catch specially tagged fish, and win prizes ranging from Cabela's gift cards to boats to $2 million. Wanna Go Fishing for Millions? debuted in 2011. Registered anglers who catch a tagged fish will be directed to the contest website where they will find instructions on redeeming the tags for prizes.
One of the tagged fish could be worth $1 million. The grand prize will be doubled to $2 million for participants who are current users of the Cabela's Fish Recon app or who download the Cabela's Fish Recon app to their smartphone, sponsored by Geico. Other prizes include two Ranger 520Z Bass Series Comanche boats and trailers with Evinrude outboard motors, valued at $65,000 each, as well as more than $20,000 in gear from Costa sunglasses, Abu Garcia, and Rapala.
All rules and requirements, as well as contest details and registration information, can be found at the contest website, www.cabelas.com/fishformillions, or by visiting the KDWPT website at ksoutdoors.com and clicking on the contest logo.


text:
Zing Air Helix Batminton Set
$7.98 $16.99
Zing Air Helix Batminton Set. Helix is the new revolutionary badminton which combines the speed of a ball with the flight of a shuttle. This is good for outdoor and indoor plays, there are two different skill levels. Innovation spin technology creates a stable flight and turns quickly on the rebound. Pack includes: 2 blades and 2 Helix shuttles with different skill levels. Toys > Category > Outdoor Play, Kids Sports, Swimming Pools > Outdoor Play > Outdoor Activities > Lawn Games. Toys & Games > Outdoor Play Equipment > Water Play Equipment > Lawn Water Slides.
Browse all deals at Toys"R"Us
See more in Outdoor Play Equipment
* This offer may contain time-sensitive information and offers. Please check with Toys"R"Us to confirm actual price & availability.
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4401 W. Empire Road
4401 W. Empire Road
Sioux Falls, SD 57106


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bloggers, critique group, editing, humor, Jody Sparks, revision, Rob Kent, rough drafts, teen books, writing, writing a novel, YA, young adult books, zombies
Fair Warning: this post is nasty. If you like your editing like you like your Cards Against Humanity, then you've found your people.
I've often said my critique group (Lovingly referred to as the YA Cannibals) is my church. They're my support group for all things writing. When I'm losing faith in the nebulous world of publishing, I lean on them. They accept me "just as I am," but not my writing just as it is. No. They forgive it for it's sins, but demand a more faithful offering the next time around. And occasionally, Instead of telling me, "This line is boring," or "This section isn't moving the plot along," etc., Rob shows me that I've got some work to do. Rob takes the cardinal rule of writing very seriously.
One result is that most of the sentences or events surrounding the edits have changed in my manuscript, if not exactly as Rob suggests. Another result is: I'll never see my sweet characters the same again.
Sidebar: Rob's writing is truly excellent and if you're into zombies, you should definitely read his zombie books, All Together Now and All Right Now.
Here's a preliminary pitch for what the book is about (You may have seen a different pitch on the blog earlier, but the book has since changed a bit):
Tam's never felt at home with the way her parents examine her life under a microscope–sometimes literally. But that's okay, because Tam, Carl, and Imogen have been their own nation, under God, indivisible with predictability and friendship for all ever since their moms met at a fertility clinic 18 years ago. But when Tam's Golden Retriever, Honey, viciously attacks Imogen leaving her entangled in physical and emotional scars from what seemed to be a freak incident, Imogen becomes distant. And Carl and Tam become closer as they uncover the sinister truth behind Honey's attack–a truth about cloning that not only threatens the lifelong friendship, but may threaten their identities and even their lives.
And now, Rob's edits:
- She clawed at Imogen's thighs vagina, her head jerking back and forth, trying to rip through Imogen's jeans.
- Her hair and face were sticky with sweat. She covered my eyes vagina.
- Mom took her hand off my eyes vagina. "Tam, call an ambulance."
- "James," Mom said as she pressed her other hand against Imogen's leg vagina, "We need to stop the bleeding.
- I forced myself up and hurried, still shaking, to the kitchen where I'd left my phone in my backpack vagina.
- Dad was crouched down next to them with his head cradled in his head vagina, breathing hard.
- So I sat with Mom, head and eyes down, trying to ignore the hospital vagina smell and the intensity of all the other people waiting for their loved ones.
- She put her arm around me and kissed the top of my head vagina.
- My foot vagina was bouncing my leg up and down.
- I didn't know if Mom was cursing because of what I said about Honey or because Imogen's mom was walking toward us so fast that her lavender, oversized vagina scrubs were was sticking to her like a flag caught on it pole.
- He always jammed his hand in his hair vagina and tugged at it a little when he was stressed.
- Carl stuck his hand in his windblown vagina hair.
- Carl's shirt vagina was wrinkled, smudged, and wet from where I'd had my face all over it.
- But as I watched Officer Greene come closer, (vagina) lips tightened across his rectangular face, I suspected that protective sentiment wasn't true of pets gone wild.
- I clenched my jaw vagina to keep from saying anything else.
- I squeezed my eyes vagina shut like it could turn off the valve that released the urge to cry.
- I stretched my calves vagina and quads, and set off down the dirt road.
- I don't remember falling asleep, but I woke up to light knocking on my door vagina.
- My hand went over my mouth vagina like Mom's did when she didn't know what else to say or do.
- Her favorite coffee mug sat empty next to her—the one that said, "vaginas women who behave, rarely make history."
- Mom pursed her lips vagina.
- The children seem to love baking, and I am pleased to watch them work together to fill gaps in their development, giving them the best chance for a brain vagina that's healthy and strong.
- I missed his new sweater and his shirt and tie when I caught a whiff of his hoodie vagina as he took his seat, but forest green was a good color on him.
- When I got home from school, Mom was snacking on popcorn vagina at the kitchen island.
- "You're fussing with the piping on the couch and your foot vagina is bouncing up and down like you're revving up to run out of here."
- "Horse and Buggy Wet Bottom Shoe Fly vagina Pie," Carl said.
- "Thanks," he said, twitching his nose vagina and regaining his personal space.
- "I know. But it would explain … Sugar's records vagina."
- He licked his lips and rubbed his hands on his thighs. Sweaty palms vagina I presumed.
- "And it must have been scary and painful as hell to have a dog's rage vagina like … on you."
- My stomach vagina felt gross.
- He rubbed my shoulders vagina up and down.
- He wore a polo tucked into tight jeans that were bulging with vagina technology, keys, and his wallet.
- My hand crept up his chest vagina and around his neck and he put his hand in my hair vagina nervously.
- I slapped my hand vagina down on the table. "NO ONE is a third wheel. Got it?"
- I was drumming my fingers against my thigh vagina.
- Dad swept Imogen's long hair away from her face and rocked her, his bearded chin resting on top of her head vagina.
- I groaned, my vagina stomach turning to frenzied sort of sludge.
- His arm wrapped vagina'd around me.
- I felt my vagina jaw clenching.
- "Too late for that. She just caught you red-vagina-ed handed."
- I'd found his weak spot, so I lingered, tracing my tongue along the edge of his soft, cool ear vagina.
- "A hooded vagina rat?" he asked.
- He had four wrinkles in his forehead vagina. He was sweaty.
- Before Mom could answer, another cop was in my face vagina.
- He was an older black man with graying hair shaved close to his face vagina.
- My voice vagina was all jammed up in my throat.


text: One word, two meanings. Moment as in momentary, an event or passion that is here, now, quick then gone. Bush's last press conference, Madoff's comeuppance, a presidential puppy, Tiger's bad lie. Steroid scandals, swine-flu panics, airplane pilots good and bad. Already these fragments have the memorial feeling of snapshots in an old shoe box. But the other meaning is moment as in momentous, things that mattered in some lasting way, images destined not for shoe boxes but for history books. A year that dawned to the chime of change soon got bogged down in intractable troubles. No subject appeared more often on this page than the conflicts raging in the volatile crescent from Iraq and Iran to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Second place went to our sour economy's ups and downs the job losses and con artists, the green shoots and Black Fridays. Struggle abroad and struggle at home: surely those were defining glimpses of this Moment in our history.


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Milford soon will be home to Delaware's largest solar field
Milford will be home to Delaware's largest solar field – and one of the biggest on the East Coast – when work is completed on an 80-acre array currently under construction off of Milford-Harrington Highway.
"I don't know if people know what's going on over there or, if they do, just how big it's going to be," City Manager Richard Carmean said this week. "It's really going to be something and we're excited to have this project here in Milford."
The $50 million project is owned by PSEG Solar Source, a subsidiary of New Jersey-based Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), which purchased it from the Colorado-based solar energy company Juwi Solar on Sept 24. Juwi will continue to oversee the construction project and will be responsible for operation and maintenance services once the solar field is complete.
The project is piggybacking off of the city's substation project, which also is currently under construction behind the Haven Lake Animal Hospital.
As early as Jan. 1, 2013, the PSEG Milford Solar Farm will begin supplying power directly to a pair of new city-owned transformers being installed at the same location to provide power to the western end of Milford. From there, the 12 megawatts of AC power produced by the solar field will be distributed into the Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation's power grid for use by the company's nine municipal members, including Milford.
"We welcome PSEG Solar Source to Delaware, creating jobs and clean energy for our state," Gov. Jack Markell said in a statement released by PSEG. "Through the innovative partnership between DEMEC, the Town of Milford, and PSEG, the Milford Solar Farm joins more than 30 megawatts of other solar installations in Delaware, making our state a national leader in solar deployment per capita."
Last week, about 30 workers from Juwi Solar and its subcontractors began grading the property and preparing for the arrival of 62,000 solar panels, each of which will measure 3-feet-by-5-feet.
At the height of the construction project, more than 100 people will be on site installing the panels, which are expected to begin arriving sometime next week.
Those workers are racing to complete the Milford Solar Farm before Dec. 31, when various federal and state tax credits and other financial incentives will begin to expire.
"The project will continue to move forward regardless of whether we meet that deadline," said Mark Marion, Juwi Solar's director of engineering and project management. "It just means that if it's half done, we'll only get half the benefit [from those incentives]."
The Milford Solar Farm is the fifth project Juwi has built for PSEG Solar Source. The power company also owns solar fields of various sizes in Arizona, Ohio, Florida and New Jersey.
"We tend to look for projects that have a good long-term commitment from an off-taker, or the people buying the power, in states with strong energy policies where there is also strong support from the local community," said PSEG Solar Source spokesman Paul Rosengren. "This project had all of those things, and we're looking forward to turning out electricity in Milford for at least the next 20 to 30 years."
Once the construction project is complete, the solar field will be barely noticeable to most Milford residents, according to city officials.
The site will be staffed by security personnel, but no other workers will be assigned to the property, outside of local grounds crews who will be hired to maintain the property on semi-monthly basis, Marion said.
"It's my understanding that once the field is up and running, it will generate no more noise than a refrigerator," Carmean added.


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The Combat Schedule for Renn Faire 09 is as follows.
9:45AM - 10AM Steel Armor Inspection
10AM - 10:40AM Steel Tournament
10:40AM - 12PM Steel Melees
11:45AM - 1PM Rapier Armor Inspection & Pick Up fights
1PM - 2PM Rapier Tournament
2PM - 5PM Rapier Melees
5PM - 5:30PM Rapier Bar Room Brawl
5:15PM - 5:30PM Shinai Armor Inspection
5:30PM - 6:30PM Shinai Melee
6:30PM - 7PM Shinai Tourney
This is the schedule for Friday and Saturday. Melees will be shortened Sunday to accommodate the shorter day.
The Bar Room Brawl setup will persist from the Rapier Brawl through to the end of dinner court in the part of the eric nearest court. Shinai melees will work around or with this set-up. We would like it if people could donate the use of fabric or proper table cloths to cover the straw bales during court as we intend to use the layout to provide a casual dining area during court times.
If there is interest, Torchlight Tournament will run from 9PM to 10PM.
There will be NO combat during the times of 7PM - 9PM as there will most likely be hand fasting and wedding ceremonies on display Friday and Saturday.


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Fig. 9. Planet Waves' Fret Polishing System includes super-fine abrasive paper and a guard to protect the wood.
Simply lay the template over the fretwire and polish the frets until they glisten (Fig. 9). The kit works great and there is little mess to clean up. But even with this system, you'll want to vacuum the residue off the neck left by the polishing paper.
Fig. 10. Like the fretboard, an acoustic guitar's bridge needs to be cleaned and conditioned.
Cleaning and conditioning a bridge. It's very simple to clean and condition the bridge on an acoustic guitar. Remove the bridge saddle and then scrub the bridge with a toothbrush and conditioner (Fig. 10). Use cotton swabs to clean inside the saddle slot. When the gunk is cleaned off, wipe down the bridge with a paper towel. That's it!
Fig. 11. Filth can build up on a bridge and its saddles. When hardware gets this dirty and rusty, you'll need to disassemble and clean it with WD-40 or 3-in-One oil.
Cleaning the hardware. Sweat is a big enemy of hardware because its acids and salts corrode the metal plating and attract dirt that clogs up any moving parts. In extreme cases, a guitar's bridge (Fig. 11) and tuning keys (Fig. 12) can begin to rust. Cleaning these important mechanisms keeps them looking good and functioning at their best.
Fig. 12. If left on metal hardware, sweat can eat right into the plating and cause rust.
For cleaning metal hardware, I've had success with 3-in-One oil and WD-40. Remember that these products are only safe on metal, so avoid getting them on the fretboard or finish. I typically remove the hardware to clean it with an old toothbrush and then carefully wipe it off before reinstalling.
Cleaning the finish. When cleaning your guitar's finish, avoid furniture polishes like Pledge, which contains lemon oil, or products that contain d-Limonene, alcohol, solvents, or silicone. All of these will damage the finish over time. Sweat is another finish-eater because it causes lacquer to soften and break down.
Water actually works well to clean a guitar finish. Use a slightly damp micro-fiber cloth to wipe away dust and grime, and rinse the cloth frequently to remove any debris. As for a good polish, I only use pure carnauba wax, which is safe for most finishes.
Controlling humidity. Once your guitar is clean, you'll want to protect the wood with some type of humidifier. For a guitar that's stored in its case, I recommend the Humidipak from Planet Waves. It's a simple, accurate, and effective way to maintain the ideal humidity for your guitar. If you keep your guitar out in a studio or living area, try running an ultrasonic or warm mist humidifier in that room. For most stringed instruments, the optimum humidity level is 45 percent.


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While driving a car he stole less than 15 minutes earlier, a thief in Ceres, Calif. spotted a 69-year-old homeowner in his garage and attempted to rob him with a knife. The homeowner responded by retrieving a nearby .38-caliber handgun and shooting the criminal twice. The wounded robber fled the home but was captured by police in a nearby yard.
An investigation revealed that the criminal already had a warrant out for his arrest, resulting from his lack of participation in a court ordered alternative work program. (The Modesto Bee, Modesto, Calif. 11/05/12)


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Tranquility® SlimLine® Original Briefs
Principle Business Enterprises, Inc. manufactures Tranquility® , "The Home Caring Brand": a full line of high-performance incontinence products (pediatric through bariatric sizes) endorsed by medical professionals for their guaranteed performance and patented absorption technologies. Designed for the home care, institutional and Medicaid market. Success is achieved by providing quality products and offering free private consultations with samples to assist in formulating individual incontinence solutions.


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So how was your Thanksgiving*, et cetera and so forth?
*[Rhetorical question, I really don't care.]
Okay, let's bike blog now, because bike bike bike.
Remember how I took the entirety of last week off from blogging? Well, far from being idle, I was in fact engaged in a project that was long overdue. That's right, a full year after moving residences, I finally organized my bike shit.
It seems like only yesterday that "organizing my bike shit" merely meant deciding whether to lean the road bike against the mountain bike or vice versa. Now, in middle age, I've got more bike clothes than regular clothes, more bike tools than books, and so many bikes that, were I to line them up end to end against a brick wall and "claim ownership" in the way that dogs do, I wouldn't even be able to urinate on all of them in a single bladder load. Instead, I'd have to top up on beer and start again, maybe even two or three more times before I'd finally marked them all.
Of course, the upside to having a lot of bike shit is that you rarely have to go to a bike shop anymore. Don't get me wrong, I love bike shops and I enjoy nothing more than listening to a high school student explain to me why I should buy a new bicycle instead of simply purchasing the pair of new brake pads I originally came in for, but the truth of the matter is that I'm getting old and I just don't have that kind of time anymore. When I was young I believed them, when I got a little older it just seemed cute, and now as soon as they open their mouths I just want to punch them in the nuts.
So it's great to know that you've got your own drawer full of brake pads, and you know you'll find a decent set because everybody knows when you remove something worn from your bike and then let it sit in a dark drawer for six months it grows back.
The problem though was that, since my move, my crap was in such a state of disarray that actually getting to those brake pads required a full day of excavation, so instead I'd just suck it up and go to the bike shop, and somehow I'd end up leaving with a new bike because I felt bad for the kid after I punched him in the nuts.
On top of that, whether I got the part at the bike shop or from the parts bin didn't really matter anyway, since all my tools were a mess, so I'd have to explode my entire household just to find a chain tool (not that you need a chain tool to change your brake pads, but that was just an example, stop being such a bike dork for one second, okay?).
The biggest problem though was the bikes. At my worst I had them spread across three boroughs, but before this past week I still had them in two (one of which was Brooklyn, a place I can no longer stomach visiting, which is partly why I was procrastinating) and it was clear that one or two bikes would have to go. But which? Apart from my artisanal roadening bicycle and my artisanal mountaining bicycle none of them are particularly remarkable, so it didn't seem worth selling any of them for the small amount of money they'd ultimately fetch. Sure, I might make a little beer money, but having sold bikes on Craigslist in the past I knew that no amount of beer money is worth wanting to stab yourself in the face, which is what dealing with bike customers on Craigslist makes you want to do. And eBay? Don't even talk to me about eBay. There's no way I'm going to deal with an auction and then schlep stuff back and forth to the post office like a schmuck on wheels.
Plus, I can't help thinking I should hold onto stuff just in case one of my seventeen (17) children gets into bikes, though I really, really hope he doesn't. Sure, part of me dreams of father-son mountain bike rides and all the rest of it, but much more than that I hope and pray he is spared from this horrendous affliction. Bike-dorkdom is something I wish on nobody, not even my worstest enemy, and least of all my own progeny. At the very least, if he still likes bikes when he gets older, I'm hoping he has the common sense to want to stick to doing tricks on BMX bikes, because I don't think I can stomach the thought of some aspiring junior racer waking up at 4:30am to mix it up with the Freds in Central Park and taking shitty bike advice from some self-styled coach while real life passes him by. If I see any roadie tendencies I'm turning him right onto (recreational) drugs.
Still, if he's going to insist on riding bikes at the very least I don't want to have to buy them, so I figured I'd save as much as possible. But still, something was going to have to go, and after careful deliberation I sacrificed the Scattante:
Or, more accurately, I removed any parts worth saving and then donated the frame.
Yes, we'd been through a lot together. In fact, the Scattante is arguably a significant part of urban cycling history, inasmuch as it marked Performance Bike's entry into the then-nascent "fixie" market:
Metallica making a music video, Nirvana going Top 40, and Performance selling "fixies." These were all cultural high points, or low points, or completely and utterly meaningless points depending on how you look at it.
Still, the Scattante was simply a bike I could no longer rationalize--if for no other reason than it's a single-speed city bike, and while I technically still live in "the city," in practice I can barely even pedal the fucking thing up the hill to my house, much less muster up the enthusiasm to do a 15-mile commute on the thing.
So it had to go.
As for the rest, I stripped a couple down and hung the frames in the corner like sides of beef, and everything else is all in one place, in tune, and ready to roll. Tires, stems, seatposts, pedals, and the like all live in little bins like happy hamsters. All my tools are readily accessible so I can get right to mangling and stripping components. And between years of hoarding and the stripping-down of little-used bikes I now have enough spare parts that, with any luck, I can avoid having to enter a bike shop for at least a few years.
And with that, I'm grabbing one of my easily-accessible bikes and heading out for a ride:


text:
Gratuitous Art Films is a collaborative art project that finds the connections and inflections between today's audience and yesterday's bully pulpit. Gratuitous techniques have been keystones in both propaganda and film making in the 20th century and over time, connotations-symbolic, political or otherwise allow us to manipulate sound and images to gratuitously inflict our own narratives.
GAF is currently on hiatus since early 2012.
Cat is currently working on The 22 Magazine and Painting. For contact info visit here.


text:
Product 1/34
Bloombastic is the most complete Bloom Stimulator on the market today. This one bottle wonder will transform your garden by elevating its overall quality and yield. the Bloombastic formula is a synergy of two very different sciences. Bloombastic is a highly concentrated pure mineral PK boost as well as a cutting edge plant metabolic booster.
Bloombastic is engineered to stimulate enzymatic processes on several levels increasing your plant's resistance to stress factors such as: heat, dry air, high light intensity, disease and nutrient deficiencies. Bloombastic will elevate the performance of any brand of base nutrient transforming you in a Master Gardener.
Start with 2 ml per gallon of nutrient solution. In the final 4 weeks of the bloom cycle increase usage to 4 ml per gallon of nutrient solution. Do a good flush before you up the dose to 4 ml per gallon.


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The Steigerwald Nature Park offers wonderful walks through forests, meadows and vineyards in villages with prestigious histories and tempting traditional specialities. The Steigerwald Panorama Trail, which has been awarded the "Walkable Germany" quality seal, takes visitors through the region's most beautiful sights.
In the picturesque southern spa resort of Bad Windsheim, the mountainous landscape of the Steigerwald is formed from a multitude of individual peaks that are separated from one another by valley meadows. Here hikers can find a wide variety of rare to exceptionally rare plants and animals such as orchids and endangered butterfly species.
Further north, an almost uninterrupted crest of mountains extends from the town of Iphofen that lies in the shadow of Schwanberg Mountain all the way to Zabelstein Mountain. Here observation points offer visitors a breathtaking view over the mountains that reaches far into Franconia. The secluded mountain landscape is characterised by many small ponds and is truly a dream destination for lovers or bird life and dragonflies.
Vast beech forests, some of the most beautiful in Germany, separate Zabelstein Mountain from the market community of Ebrach. Their mighty trunks tower into the sky like the arches and columns of a Gothic cathedral, obscuring the view with their interweaving canopies that blaze gold in May and regain their colour later into the year.
Of the region's many pleasant, friendly places, it is Ebrach that really stands out: the Cistercian abbey that was founded here in 1127 is home to artistic treasures of national significance. The mighty Schwarzenberg Castle that dominates the landscape above the town of Scheinfeld is just one of the many important attractions to be found within the nature park.
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text:
To the tune of: "Toot Toot Tootsie Goodbye" (public domain)
by Gus Kahn and Randy Haspel
Kiss Chris Christie goodbye/
Goodbye Christie don't cry.
You tried to close the bridge to Fort Lee/Because the mayor said you were portly.
The scandal has you on the ropes/
There go your presidential hopes.
Your nose grows longer when you lie,
So kiss Chris Christie goodbye.
This is going to be fun. Every day in every way, new revelations emerge, not just about the ugly political payback, which snarled traffic from Fort Lee, New Jersey, to the George Washington Bridge, but about the entire workings of the Chris Christie administration. There will be hearings, and subpoenas, and witnesses, and great political theater, all over the misuse of public infrastructure to punish a Democratic mayor who declined to endorse the governor for reelection.
Christie's "may this buck be passed from me" speech at a press conference defies logic. When Christie says the traffic jams were ordered by members of his staff without his knowledge, that can mean only one of two things — either he's a liar or a fool. In either case, he has effectively disqualified himself from the 2016 presidential sweepstakes.
It's technically possible that Christie never heard about the bridge debacle. It's called "plausible deniability." It's an old Nixon trick. He might have told members of his staff, "Go and do what you have to, just don't tell me about it." In this scenario, Christie is like the lawyer, Tom Hayden, in The Godfather, who doesn't wish to hear information that could make him liable in a court proceeding. But if Christie's closest aides pulled off this entire stunt under the governor's nose without him noticing, then he's an idiot.
Among this oddball cast of Jersey Shore, somebody's getting immunity from prosecution, and then it all spills out, right on the clean carpet. Christie is already under a federal investigation regarding how his administration spent $25 million of government aid after Hurricane Sandy to promote tourism. At the request of New Jersey Democratic Senator Frank Pallone Jr., the inspector general at HUD conducted a preliminary review of the expenditures and found enough evidence to justify a complete audit. Among the findings were that Christie hired a public relations firm close to the governor's office, even though another firm's bid for the job was for $2 million less. The difference was that the linked-in PR firm proposed to feature Christie and his family in commercials touting the Jersey shore while the other firm did not. Seeing Chris Christie on a beach would seem to have the opposite effect from the commercial's intent. It would certainly encourage me to find another place to swim. Then there is that additional two-or-so million dollars that Christie cost his state by declaring a special election because he didn't want to be on the same ballot with newly elected Senator Cory Booker.
The latest accusations come from Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer, another Democrat who had the temerity not to endorse the governor's reelection campaign. Zimmer accused the Christie administration of holding Hurricane Sandy relief funds hostage unless she approved a real estate deal benefiting an outfit called the Rockefeller Group. When she balked at the proposal, the $100 million in governmental aid that Hoboken had requested was reduced to the $300,000 that the city received. A Christie spokesman replied that the allegations were, "outlandishly false," but after the governor's denial, Zimmer told CNN, "I stand by my word." Then Zimmer went off to a meeting with U.S. attorneys.
Other stories have surfaced about the governor leaning on people and/or meting out punishment to his foes. The New York Times reports stories of "a former governor stripped of police security at public events" and a university professor who lost state funding for pet projects because of negative comments he made about Christie. This is the behavior of the potential future President of the United States? For Christie to claim that he never heard a word about it is like Clinton saying, "I never had sexual relations with that woman."
We've already been through this. Every bit of this activity is reminiscent of the Nixon administration: the dirty tricks, the political payback, the persecution of perceived "enemies," the lying, the cover-up. Who needs this again? It will make for entertaining TV in the coming weeks, but Christie can kiss his presidential ambitions goodbye. The tired cliche, "stick a fork in him," seems appropriate in this case. I would never make fun of the morbidly obese, but in preparation for a 2016 presidential run, the governor has gotten that lap-band stomach operation that seemed to work so well for Al Roker and Al Sharpton, and it ain't gonna happen. He may as well reverse the procedure and start eating again. Then he can truly become another fat-cat Republican also-ran in the ongoing implosion of the party. Christie's apologetic statement that "I am not a bully" caused a public flashback to Richard Nixon's famous quote, "I am not a crook." Whether it was public denial or merely self-denial, the same is true in both incidences. Richard Nixon was a crook and Chris Christie is a bully. Make that, "was" a bully.
Need I say, "the bigger they come?"
Randy Haspel writes the "Born-Again Hippies" blog, where a version of this column first appeared.


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Enhanced computer interface and weather data logger.
The CC-3000 is our next generation data logger and computer interface. Connectivity, storage capacity and features have all been enhanced. The CC-3000 replaces the CC-2000 and MKIIICC interface.
Please be sure to select the model that matches your weather station. Long range versions support LR weather stations only.
Free Software:
Each CC-3000 is shipped with a free version of Weatherview32 V8 Home Edition. Upgrades are available. Australia's own Weather Display Lite weather station software for MS Windows is avaliable via free download. Weather Display full version for MS Windows, Linux & MAC can be purchased via www.weather-display.com Weathersnoop for Mac is sold separately.
Integrated Radio Receiver:
Unlike the previous interface, the LR radio receiver is build right into the unit. This means less wires and a cleaner desk. A power cable and USB cable are all that are required. The new switching power supply is smaller and more efficient.
Fast USB or RS-232:
The CC-3000 is normally shipped with a USB interface. An RS-232 version is available for applications that require serial connections like cellular and satellite modems. The baud rate has been boosted from 9600 to 115,200. Even with extra memory download times are dramatically reduced. USB drivers are provided for Windows, Mac and Linux.
Flash Memory:
Memory has been increased from 32K to 2MB. The 32K was RAM based which meant if you lost power you lost your data. This is not the case with flash, your data is non-volatile and will not be destroyed when power is lost. The data stored in memory is compressed so the 2MB will allow for long intervals between downloads. With a 49834 record capacity the CC-3000 will log for over 11 months at a 10 minute logging interval. The capacity will vary depending selected sensors. A base record is 42 bytes in length.
NiMH Battery Backup:
The CC-3000 now uses NiMH battery backup. These batteries are much easier to get than NiCAD and have substantially more capacity. Fully charged batteries will keep the CC-3000 running for more than 24 hours. The new case includes a battery compartment which makes installing the four batteries very easy.
Inside Temperature:
A thermistor based temperature sensor is built into the interface. This provides inside temperature which can be very useful for freeze alarms in vacation homes.
High Speed Processor:
The performance of the primary processor has been increased while also reducing power consumption. The increased performance allows for faster communications and more features.
Software Updates:
The new CPU can be reprogrammed via the USB or RS-232 interface. This means that updates can be quickly and easily applied by the user. This also allows for multiple software programs that use the same hardware. Rainwise can now offer custom software designed for specific tasks. Contact us if you have a specific requirement.
English and Metric Units:
The original interface was only available in English units. Metric was achieved by having a PC application convert the data. The CC-3000 has user selectable units.
New Command Protocol:
The new command protocol was designed to offer greater flexibility, be more user friendly and easier for software developers to use. The full protocol and command list are supplied are available in the CC-3000 instruction manual.
Daylight Savings:
Daylight savings is now supported. The dates, times and shift are user selectable. This allows the CC-3000 to be used in any country around the world.
Expansion Port:
In preparation for future functionality the CC-3000 is equipped with an expansion port. This connector will allow for future digital and analog sensors.
- Product Code: CC-3000
- Availability: In Stock
- Ex Tax: $592.50
Related Products
Tags: cc-3000-, usb, data, logger, accessories station


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Montessori is not just about special materials; it is not just about beautiful environments. Montessori education is a total, integrated system which holds at its heart a teacher who is trained in his or her technique, skilled in his or her method, and prepared for the challenges of today's classroom. It is not enough to read the theory; it is not enough to buy the materials. Montessori teachers must first educate themselves, under the guidance of skilled practitioners, so they can develop the skill, strengths, and network they need to be effective, successful, and satisfied Montessori professionals.
The CME|NY faculty is comprised of uniquely qualified and dedicated individuals who are committed to the Montessori method of education and to enriching the Montessori community. At CME|NY we draw specialists from all over the world to teach at our center. As a group, we are proud to be linked by the rich diversity of our experiences, educational backgrounds, knowledge, work styles, and talents.
Unlike some other training programs, the CME|NY faculty do not teach at the same school. In fact, our faculty comes from all over the United States as well as Canada. They represent a broad variety of schools: small, large, public, private, rural, urban, and suburban. They offer the trainee a plethora of teaching styles so that the trainee can observe, choose, and internalize a style that works individually.For our students, we provide state-of-the-art education which meets the evolving needs of today's changing society. The academic training begins with a solid foundation of methodology and pedagogy, including traditional Montessori curriculum, rationale, and philosophy. This strong base assists in the development of teachers who nurture the pursuit of academic accomplishment, foster their own maturity and growth, and have skills to build their own classroom communities. The practicum phase enhances the professional development of the student through integration of curriculum and philosophy in the process of teaching children in the Montessori method.
Now more than ever before, teachers are facing greater and more complex difficulties in their classrooms. How does the new teacher deal with these difficult issues? CME|NY offers an approach to classroom management to assist the new teacher in confronting today's challenges.We spend time during the training, working together as staff, students, and administration, to create a community. We want our trainees to benefit not only from our knowledge and experience of Montessori, but also from use of various methods to enrich both their skills and their students' skills. By empowering our trainees during their Montessori education, we cultivate their spirits, and they in turn will empower the children of their world to build a peaceful and secure future.
At CME|NY we hold this challenge close to our hearts and we work toward meeting it with hope, determination, and love.
"The first step an intending Montessori teacher must take is to prepare herself. For one thing, she must keep her imagination alive ... The Montessori teacher is constantly looking for a child who is not yet there ... The teacher ... must have a kind of faith that the child will reveal himself ..."
-Maria Montessori
The Absorbent Mind


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Swisher International Group Inc. Switches Gears
On August 27, 1996, Manuel Quesada, owner of the Dominican cigar company MATASA, visited the headquarters of Swisher International Group Inc. in Jacksonville, Florida. Quesada, the highly regarded maker of Romeo y Julieta, Fonseca and other cigar brands, had come to discuss a partnership with Swisher: a jointly financed, state-of-the-art cigar making factory in the Dominican Republic, to be run by Quesada. This, after all, was the height of the cigar boom and Swisher, America's dominant machine-made cigar company, had yet to make a single premium smoke. It owned and distributed several brands, including flagship Bering, but was at the mercy of its suppliers. Cigars were scarce. The Swisher executives in the room--Tim Mann, president; Tom Ryan, executive vice president of sales and marketing; and Nick Cevera, executive vice president of operations--were eager for more control of their company's destiny.
About two hours into the meeting, Mann's secretary delivered a fax. In New York, General Cigar Holdings Inc., the maker of Macanudo and Partagas, had just announced plans to acquire Villazon & Co., owner of the non-Cuban Punch and Hoyo de Monterrey brands. General, already a powerhouse, would now boast a dazzling roster of premium brands. At a moment in industry history that didn't want for signs of the times, this news resonated. General paid an estimated $70 million in cash and stock.
Though Mann and Ryan say the announcement didn't affect their plans, it must have been a bittersweet reminder of just how hot the premium market was--and that they hadn't taken full advantage. "We already had a pretty strong sense of urgency about getting into the premium market," Ryan recalls. "Like everyone at the time, we were struggling to get more cigars. The Villazon deal was just another indication of the size and strength of the market."
A few months after the talks began, Quesada and a Swisher contingent flew to the Canary Islands for a meeting with representatives of Central Industrial de Tabaqueros Associados Tabacos de Canarios S.A. (CITA), the manufacturer of Casa Buena, which Swisher distributes, and Swisher's machine-made King Edward brand for Europe. Would CITA be interested in becoming a third partner in the joint venture? It would. Construction of the factory, called Compañia Tabacos de Exportación S.A. (COTABEX), began in February 1997. The first cigar was rolled there in October.
For Swisher, Cotabex was just one element of a three-part campaign to become a major premium cigarmaker. At about the same time that Cotabex started rolling cigars, Swisher cut the ribbon on a wholly owned, 78,000-square-foot factory in El Paraiso, Honduras. A few months later, it purchased 50 percent of Puros de Villa González, a tobacco processing and cigar-rolling plant in Villa González, Dominican Republic. As of September 1997, Swisher had zero capacity for premium cigar making. Today, with all three factories combined, it can make as many as 50 million premium cigars a year.
That's a lot of hand-rolled smokes for a 137-year-old company whose name conjures up images of mass-produced Swisher Sweets, not of verdant tobacco fields and bustling rolling rooms. Led by its Swisher Sweets and King Edward brands, Swisher has a 26 percent share of America's "large" (premium-sized) machine-made cigar market and a 46 percent share of the "little" (cigarette-sized) machine-made segment. A public company since December 1996, it earned $39.3 million on sales of $275.6 million in 1997. Though cigars represented 74 percent of total sales--the rest came from smokeless tobacco brands such as Silver Creek and Chattanooga Chew--premium cigars represented just 13 percent of total cigar sales. The meat of Swisher's business comes out of its Jacksonville factory, the largest in the world. It churns out about 7.6 million machine-made cigars a day.
With its emphasis on machine production and mass marketing, Swisher had been ill-positioned for the premium cigar boom--and slow to respond. Even now, though its commitment can't be questioned, some in the industry still believe Swisher just doesn't "get" the premium side of the business.
Swisher executives hear the whispers. "We're viewed as an old-line cigar company, if you will," concedes Mann, a blunt, affable 56 year old who favors Swisher Sweets little cigars. "In a lot of ways a 'fine old company.' But what we want to be known as is the most innovative cigar company in the United States."
T he gold rush atmosphere that infused the grimy Dominican city of Santiago and its environs in 1996 and 1997 is fading, but signs linger. Driving down Salvador Estrella Sahdalla, a major thoroughfare, we pass a used car lot. No one's shopping for wheels, but a group of men appear to be haggling over something. "Look closely," urges the driver, Marco José Antuña, general manager of Puros de Villa González. "That's tobacco." Sure enough, large green tobacco leaves hang from the rafters of an empty pavilion near the back of the lot.
It's a few minutes past 8 on a balmy Thursday morning in late March, and Antuña is taking the 20-minute drive from Santiago proper to Villa González, an adjacent town of about 36,000. Like virtually all Dominican cigarmakers, Antuña owns a four-wheel drive, in this case a brown-and-white 1998 Mitsubishi Montero. After a few miles of dense traffic on Salvador Estrella Sahdalla, he veers to the north onto a small road that winds through lush Caribbean countryside and tiny villages of abject poverty. This is the heart of the Cibao Valley, Dominican tobacco country. The Septemtrional Mountains rise up softly to the immediate north; the Central Mountains are distant but visible to the south. Tobacco plants are ubiquitous, but the harvest is nearly over. A few sorry little leaves remain on some plants, but most are picked clean and the curing barns that dot the fields are abundant with filler leaves just beginning to dry and brown.
An industrial engineering graduate, Antuña, 36, began his career in the computer industry--assembling workstations, building networks and developing software for clients in his native Dominican Republic. At 25 he married Raquel Peña, daughter of Puros de Villa González president Leocadio Peña, whom everyone calls Don Leo. Leocadio, 65, began working with tobacco when he was 12. He founded Puros de Villa González in 1961, and for years was a tobacco processor and exporter. When the premium cigar market heated up in 1995, Peña began rolling cigars.
In the spring of 1996, Antuña joined his father-in-law's nascent cigar business, leaving the management of his computer operation in the hands of a partner. As general manager of the factory, Antuña has seen the number of rollers grow to 200 and production increase to 9 to 10 million cigars a year. Now that Swisher owns half of the company, about 70 to 80 percent of Puros's production is devoted to Swisher brands such as Santiago Silk, Siglo 21 and Don Julio. The factory also produces Don Leo and Manifiesto, which it owns jointly with Swisher, and Napa, La Diva, Cusano and Carrington for other companies.
Antuña hangs a sharp left into the Puros compound, which consists of six squat, beige buildings; a seventh is under construction. A yellow school bus with the factory name stenciled on the side is parked near the entrance. Every morning at 7, the bus rolls in, filled with workers from outlying areas, and every evening at 5 it takes them home.
At its peak period of activity (in April and May, when the tobacco is deveined after it has been sorted, bulked and fermented), Puros employs about 600 workers. In late March there are about 400. Half are rolling; the other half are sorting tobacco in dank, cavernous rooms about half the size of a football field.
In the rolling room, a low wall runs down the center, dividing the rollers into two distinct groups. Those on the right wear yellow uniforms over their street clothes. "The ones with the yellow jackets are the master rollers--they get paid better," Antuña explains. "The others are good rollers, but they look over to the other side and try to become master rollers, too."
On this day, most of the master torcedores are making Bering Hallmark cigars. This is a new Dominican version of Bering, Swisher's flagship Honduran brand. It was introduced in June for about $3 to $5 a cigar.
"We're real excited about this new brand," says Swisher's Ryan, showing a mockup of an ad featuring Senior PGA pro Bobby Duval, who's endorsing the cigar. "It's a little heavier than our other Dominican cigars because Bering is an old Cuban-style brand, so we wanted it to be a little more full-flavored and have a little more punch to it. The first blends that we put together we didn't think were quite along the Bering line, so we beefed it up a little."
Swisher acquired Bering in 1985 when it bought Tampa, Florida-based Corral Wodiska y Cia. At the time, the brand was made with long filler and a natural binder and wrapper. Most sizes were made by machine, though a few were handmade. In 1990, Swisher moved the production to Honduras and converted Bering to a 100-percent handmade brand. Some sizes were made under contract by Nestor Plasencia, others by Frank Llaneza at the Villazon factory.
Lack of control over the supply of Bering--there were no specific numbers attached to the contract--was a primary reason for building the El Paraiso factory, which has an annual capacity of 30 million cigars. Swisher retained Plasencia to run that factory as well, and it now produces Bering, La Primadora and La Diligencia. The company's Nicaraguan brands, Sabroso and Flor de Jalapa, are still made at Plasencia-owned factories in that country.
Back in Santiago, Manuel Quesada is awed by the cutting- edge technology that characterizes Cotabex. "Look at this--it's a key cabinet," he says with mock wonderment, before leading a tour of Cotabex's 75,000-square-foot factory. "You open this, and all the keys are color-coded. You walk into Matasa, and you know how we open doors? Kick the damn things in! Look at this: pink keys, blue keys. I mean, this is progress. This is the twenty-first century of cigar making."
At this, he lets fly a deep belly laugh and opens the door to the rolling gallery. Quesada is one of the strongest personalities in the Dominican cigar business. A tall, powerfully built man of 51, he founded Matasa (Manufactures de Tabacos S.A., his first factory) in 1974 with "one table and six cigarmakers." Even today, with an annual capacity of 15 million cigars, the ramshackle Matasa is the polar opposite of Cotabex. "This factory came from a blueprint," says Quesada. "We were able to sit down and plan and program the factory so it has a flow."
Flow it definitely has. Though the plant was making only about 26,000 cigars a day in March (a pace of 6.2 million cigars per year, well below its maximum capacity of about 35 million), Cotabex is highly efficient. Tobacco is received at a large loading dock, sent via elevator to a second-floor mezzanine for sorting, bulking and fermentation, then brought back downstairs to a large, well-ventilated rolling room.
Once the cigars are rolled, they're taken to zinc-lined rooms for fumigation, cedar-lined rooms for aging, and air-conditioned rooms for packing. The reception and executive suites could be in an office park in suburban Phoenix. There's even a personnel director with an office directly off the rolling gallery. Workers with a question or a gripe can stop by anytime.
Quesada's first project for Swisher is Optimo Classico, a premium bundle cigar that was introduced in mid-April and sells in the $2 to $3 range. Optimo, which Swisher acquired in 1986 when it bought Clearwater, Florida-based Universal Cigar Co., is a machine-made cigar that sells for about 60 to 80 cents apiece. The bundle is an attempt "to capitalize on the famous name of Optimo," says Ryan.
"Matasa's main role in this setup is to run the operation according to the wishes of the partners," Quesada says. "Julio [Fajardo, his right-hand man] and I run the factory. The expertise that CITA and Swisher bring is a different area of expertise; they bring the market area that we don't have, and CITA brings Europe, which we don't have. So we've sort of gathered the three strong points of each and put them together to create Cotabex. And we hope we'll benefit from the joint work of all three."
Swisher's Jacksonville corporate headquarters and plant occupy about 750,000 square feet. The factory itself is an impressive monument to the science of manufacturing. About 1,000 workers toil here, performing what amounts to support roles for the hundreds of highly automated machines that purr and whine ceaselessly.
Surrounding the compound are somnolent streets lined with exquisite old houses in the latter stages of decay. Save for the Swisher plant, the atmosphere borders on antebellum. "This isn't Florida yet," notes Mann, who grew up in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey. "It's south Georgia. Florida doesn't start for a few miles south of Jacksonville."
Settling into Mann's office to talk about Swisher's future and past, Mann's the only officer wearing a tie, and that's for an anticipated photo shoot. The executive suites are almost as casual as the factory floor.
Founded in 1861 by a Newark, Ohio, merchant named David Swisher, Swisher is one of the oldest cigar companies in America. There are several versions of how it wound up in Jacksonville, but the most common tale has the then-mayor befriending Carl Swisher, David's grandson, as he was passing through Jacksonville and "selling" him the city with a weekend of heavy entertaining. Another version claims Carl was attracted by the fishing.
Whatever the reason, the company moved to Jacksonville in the early 1920s, and by the end of the decade was making 100 million cigars a year. Then called Jno. H. Swisher & Son, the manufacturer prospered as cigars enjoyed immense popularity over the next several decades.
In 1958 Swisher introduced Swisher Sweets and in 1966, the cigarmaker was acquired by American Maize-Products Co., a public company controlled by the William Ziegler III family. The company name was changed to Swisher International Inc. in 1992. In 1995, the Ziegler family sold American Maize, but immediately bought Swisher back. Under the leadership of Ziegler, still chief executive officer, the company went public as Swisher International Group Inc. in December 1996.
Today, Swisher is one of the most diverse operations in the cigar industry, with products spanning the price scale, from King Edward (23 to 26 cents a cigar) to Santiago Silk ($5.65 to $7.40). Though Swisher's diversity can be viewed as a strength in that each niche is a hedge against the others, the company wants more of the premium market. That won't be easy.
Ask any cigar industry executive about introducing a new brand in today's market, and you get a variation on one answer: No matter who you are, it's tough. Retailers have too much product on their hands. Ask Tabacalera S.A., the Spanish tobacco giant that's trying to crack the U.S. market. Ask U.S. Tobacco, the smokeless tobacco powerhouse (Skoal, Copenhagen), which cautiously launched its new Habano Primero cigar in April.
And ask Swisher. Confident as its executives are in their sales force and marketing muscle, they seem attuned to the challenges. "Retailers are backed up with inventory and they're rather reluctant to take on new product," Ryan admits. "How many will choose to stock our brands is a hard thing to forecast."
Indeed, that inventory bulge has contributed to a couple of rough quarters for Swisher in 1998. In the first quarter, earnings fell short of analysts' expectations, and in a news release issued in late May, the company predicted that second-quarter earnings would meet the same fate. Swisher admitted disappointment, but forecast "improvements in sales and earnings in the months ahead."
Mann likes to talk about the "Don Nobodies" who entered the market at the height of the cigar boom and have since disappeared. He likes to talk about how the market is morphing back to its pre-boom state--that of dueling giants. "And we welcome that kind of share battle," he says with characteristic scrappiness.
Swisher is an American company with a working man's ethic. Its premium cigars, especially the bargain-priced Bering, are inexpensive compared to the rest of the premium market. Unlike its biggest U.S. competitors, General Cigar and Consolidated Cigar Corp., Swisher doesn't own the U.S. rights to any Cuban brands. In conversations with Swisher executives, you don't hear much about "passion" or "family" or any of the other romantic buzzwords that other cigar companies proclaim.
What Swisher executives do speak about is offering the customer a quality smoke for a fair price. After all, as Mann declares in perhaps the most succinct synopsis of the Swisher philosophy, "There are only two kinds of cigars in the world: those that sell and those that don't."
Brendan Vaughan is manager of new media content for M. Shanken Communications Inc.


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|Baby Lapsit
Event Type: Infants
Age Group(s): Infants
Date: 7/23/2019
Start Time: 11:15 AM
End Time: 11:45 AM
Introduce baby to the joys of reading! Infants (ages 0-18 months) and their grownups will enjoy a special one-on-one storytime designed to encourage the development of language and motor skills through stories, songs, rhymes, movement, and fingerplays.Library: Southeast Regional Library location
Registration and/or tickets are not required, but space is limited for safety and comfort. To provide quality one-on-one bonding time, and to accommodate all participants, we politely ask that older siblings not attend these storytimes. Please ask about our storytimes for toddlers, preschoolers, and families.
Location: The Dig
Contact: Jere Johnston
Contact Number: 602-652-3213


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(CNN) - Whether it's candy hearts or a three-course meal, spending Valentine's Day with your sweetheart might not be the best thing for your heart.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States.
"There are lots of ways to show your love on Valentine's day that include hearthealthy options," Dr. Jyoti Sharma, a cardiologist. "So for example, going for a walk together or maybe participating in another activity that the two of you really enjoy."
Instead of sweets, give the gift of time.
Sharma said the same goes for your children.
"Things like stickers, or fun Valentine's Day cards, or let them make friendship bracelets as a way for them to show how much they appreciate their friends, instead of sending them to school with candy."
Instead of going to a fancy restaurant, cook a candle-lit dinner at home.
"When we cook our own meals, we are in control of what goes into our mouths and we can ensure what we are eating is a healthy option," Sharma said.
And while it might not make the most romantic date, the American Heart Association has set up free heart screenings at CVS Minute Clinics across the country this Valentine's Day and every Thursday in February.
"You have no idea how to prevent cardiovascular disease unless you know where you're starting from," Sharma said.
Copyright 2019 CNN. All rights reserved.


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Thirasia belongs to Santorini island complex and is opposite of Oia. Its today's shape is what was left from Stroggili west coast after the volcano's eruption in 1.500 B.C. The imposing natural landscape with impressive geological formations, well preserved folk architecture of houses and churches, the amazing view of Santorini, Palaia and Nea Kameni and the scenic Korfos coast with traditional taverns are the main features of this beautiful but not very popular island. It extends over 9000 sq. m and has a population of 260 inhabitants. Archeologists have found here settlements of later Copper period and Classic period. You can reach Thirasia by boat from Santorini or by sailing boat from Oia.
Visitgreece.gr is the official tourism web site for Greece, run by the Greek National Tourism Organisation, where you'll find information on the main tourist destinations, such as cities, beaches, as well as activities, events and much more!
All content included on this site consists intellectual property of GNTO and you are not allowed to reproduce the whole or part of this work in any way.
For information please contact: email@example.com. All Rights Reserved. GNTO © 2020.


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Who Needs Gucci?Thursday, December 10, 2009 Edit This 24 Comments »
Last year I posted Christmas gift ideas. This year, I have only one item to promote.
(This is a subtle hint for MM to get me one.) I wonder what employees would think when you walk into a store with this? Would they insist on checking your bag before you leave? Would you let them? How far are stores allowed to go anyway? How do you shop with this bag and not get arrested?
This would be akin to walking into a bank holding a bag saying, "Bank Robber." Or, going into a restaurant buffet with a bag saying, "Binge Eater". Or, going to a movie theater with "Camcorder Pirate". Or, walking onto a Military Base with "Suicide Bomber".
I've just had a brilliant idea! This could make a really good reality show! It fits the criteria, ie - as far from reality as you can get and nothing you'd normally be interested in but you get sucked into watching it anyway.
Excuse me, I need to call Ashton Kutcher...


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Departs Outside Bunch of Grapes Pub 2 St Thomas Street London Bridge
Journey back in time to London Bridge, the place law abiding citizens dare not visit. Discover the Bishop of Winchester's "Geese" providing horizontal entertainment in the various stew houses, hear of operations without anaesthetic in the World's oldest operating theatre and the ghosts that linger in England's oldest prison. Prostititue graveyards, sly grog haunts, bear baiting and cock fighting are just the beginning. Includes a visit to a 17th century pub haunted by a canine ghost.
Duration: 1.5 hours Venue: Street tour Terrain: Leisurely 2 km of walking, flat paths Paranormal Activity: Moderate
*Parental discretion advised. Adult content.


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Rajarathnam did not talk about the American dream
He told the story with the broad, toothy smile that had ingratiated him to a generation of Silicon Valley executives. The grin softened the edge of a boss who d call you an idiot or prod you into some humiliating stunt: Would you take $5,000 to be shocked with a stun gun?
In a mansion on a manmade island in Biscayne Bay in February 2007, Mr. Rajaratnam seemed determined to live up to his regal description of his name. It was Super Bowl weekend, and America s rich and powerful had descended on South Florida to watch the Indianapolis Colts play the Chicago Bears. Mostly they were there to do business. Mr. Rajaratnam s business was running a hedge fund, Galleon Group, that had made him a billionaire. And that business was based on contacts. (via The Man Who Wired Silicon Valley – WSJ.com).
Hatchet job … or a smear
This rather long post in WSJ was rather interesting. Some things stand out.
- The article mentions how the SEC and FBI was working to "build the biggest insider trading case in a generation." What makes it the largest insider trading case? US$20-US$25 million? By the way, nowhere do the writers mention that the amount in question is US$20 million (as per FBI and US$25 million per SEC). In more than 15 A4 pages, and 6500 words.
- The whole article is about anecdotes – I counted more than 32 anecdotes and gave up.
- This WSJ article talks of a "dizzying picture of multiple insider-trading rings". Worth US$20 million in insider trading?
- This article talks of a how Rajarathnam had earlier handed over a huge cache of documents in an investigation relating to his younger brother Rengan, in "early 2007 in cooperation with an SEC investigation of his younger brother, a probe that hasn't resulted in charges."
- "There is reason to fear that there is a culture –not only at hedge funds but at large firms in the financial sector — that thinks nothing of casually exchanging material nonpublic information," said Preet Bharara. Now if this is the pervasive culture, how come only Rajarathnam and his 'associates' were investigated, charged and arrested.
- Is Preet Bharara expecting that every word of every conversation be released to the public before talking to anyone – or is he talking of a simul-cast of all conversations! Google are you listening!!
- "Insider-trading charges are notoriously difficult to prove. That's because Wall Street is awash in information, and every savvy investor tries to be the first to ferret out important tidbits. To gain a conviction, prosecutors have to persuade a jury that a person traded on information that they knew was not only confidential but was also important enough to move a company's stock price." Why is it difficult to prove? Because it is difficult to define? Now if the WSJ knows this, should it not be fair and balance the coverage. But nowhere do they examine the difficulty of defining insider trading.
- Would you like to prosecute Citibank, Goldman Sachs and Alan Greenspan for the way they 'saved' LTCM? If you ask me, it was a mix of inside information, racketeering and anti-trust rolled in one.
- WSJ articles talk about how another case had to be dropped as they were "unable to prove that Mr. Rajaratnam traded on the information."
On Wall Street
The case of the Sri Lankan Rajarathnam has similar smell to it. The US prosecuting authority, Preet Bharara, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, alleges that the Galleon Fund made some US$20 million out of this insider trading.
Galleon Fund (more than US$5 billion in assets under management) probably spent more than US$20 million on tea, coffee, espresso, soda, Evian and paper napkins.
Rajrathnam's own net worth was estimated by "Forbes" to be US$ 1.3 billion. Is there any sense, any balance to these cases. Especially, when what constitutes 'insider' trading itself is so vague and nebulous!
Is Preet Bharara, indulging in reverse 'affirmative action' by prosecuting Rajarathnam? Is a 'Whiter-than-White' Preet Bharara trying to prove that he is colour blind?
"If you're a wealthy trader, you aren't special," Bloomberg quoted Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara as saying at a press conference. "Knock on our door before we come knocking on yours."
What Preet Bharara should do is investigate Hank Paulson, the Former Treasury Secretary, under whose watch many bankruptcies happened conveniently in favour of JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs.
Character certificates from prosecutors?
Robert Khuzami, director of enforcement at the SEC, said the charges show Rajaratnam's "secret of success was not genius trading strategies."
"He is not the master of the universe. He is a master of the Rolodex," Khuzami said.
Is Khuzami here to pronounce judgment on Rajarathnam's business skills? How is this comment relevant at all? All that Khuzami & Co needs to do is show culpability for specific action(s) – and not pronounce or give character or competency certificates.
What Khuzami is doing is usually called vilification. And why do you need to indulge in vilification, Mr.Khuzami? Is that not abuse of your office and statutory powers? Is that not misuse of Government machinery?
"Greed is not good," Bharara said. "This case should be a wake-up call for Wall Street."
I think I know …
I agree with you on this one, Mr.Bharara. Greed indeed is not good. Now you (might) know that in Sanskrit, the difference between लाभ labh (profit) लोभ lobh (greed) is सूक्ष्म thin. Very thin. A government official should not be greedy in justice and convictions. America's overflowing prison population is proof enough that rigid justice wont work. It is always better to be a little lenient – rather than being repressive.
But then maybe it is beyond your tolerance. After all, in all the articles and posts, which covered Rajarathnam, not once did Rajarathnam bang his head at the altar of the 'American Dream.'
It is galling, isn't it? I understand your frustration and anger. Everyone else does it. Why is Rajarathnam not doing it? Maybe that is what is beyond tolerance.
I fully understand!
Related articles
- Galleon manager Rajaratnam sentenced (money.cnn.com)
- Rajaratnam's 11 years most ever for inside trade (marketwatch.com)
- US Seeks Record Sentence for Hedge Fund Boss in NY (abcnews.go.com)
- Rajaratnam gets 11 years for insider trading (marketwatch.com)


text:
Monday, 15 March 2010
Beef & Stout Pie
Although little more than starchy filler, hiding slow cooked meat within the confines of a flour and fat housing does wondrous things to the contents. Wondrous, magical things.
A cheap staple food with a lengthy and sometimes less than illustrious history, the pie has undergone a renaissance of late. Artisanal and gourmet offerings now jostle for space alongside mass produced efforts with less than stellar provenance. The pie is becoming a shining beacon of all that is great about British food. Hearty, wholesome and delicious. Food we should rightly be proud of.
The most satisfying of pies, though, are the ones that you nurture yourself. A tender, slow cooked meaty filling and a suet exterior that manages to be both crunchy and yielding at once. A barely audible crack as the pastry gives to the pressure of cutlery and a waft of richly scented steam as the contents spill out onto the plate.
'Double carbing' is a point of contention. In most cases desire trumps sensibility and a mound of buttery mash will be on hand to capture the gravy. If not then a couple of slices of bread, generously spread with butter, will be needed to mop up the overflow. Once you've gone for pie, you may as well ignore the guilt.
The best meat for cramming into pastry is a cut that needs slow cooking. Chuck steak, brisket, oxtail or short ribs are all ideal but shin probably tops the list.
Beef shin, onion and mushroom pie
Half a kilo of boneless shin should be enough for four people and definitely won't break the bank. Expect to pay no more than 3 or 4 quid.
500g boneless beef shin, cut into chunks
6-8 small onions, each about the size of a ping pong ball
Half a handful of dried mixed mushrooms – porcini and shiitake are ideal
A tablespoon of tomato puree
A couple of bay leaves and two sprigs of thyme
A can of stout – Guiness or Murphy's are both good
500ml of stock, either dark chicken or beef
As many button mushrooms as you want, cut into quarters
Salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce for seasoning
You will also need a favoured pastry recipe.
Peel and quarter the onions trying to leave the root end vaguely in tact.
Toss the beef in seasoned flour and brown in oil over a high heat, in batches if necessary so you don't overcrowd the pan. Drain the meat on a couple of sheets of kitchen roll and brown the onions in the pan for a couple of minutes. Return the meat to the pot, add the tomato puree and cook for a couple of minutes before pouring in the stout and stock.
Poke the herbs and dried mushrooms into the liquid, cover with a cartouche and cook in a very low oven for 4-5 hours. Add the button mushrooms and cook for a further hour then remove from the oven and leave to cool whilst you make the pastry.
Line a large pie dish or a series of individual ones with the pastry, spoon as much of the beef and mushroom filling in as you can then top with more pastry. Brush with egg, poke a little hole in the top and cook for 35-40 minutes at 160-180 degrees centigrade.
Serve with peas and either mashed potato, bread and butter or both and a sticky onion gravy if you're craving extra richness.
For more meaty chunks, follow me on Twitter
12 comments:
- Alicia Foodycat said...
That is an extremely fine looking pie! Well done!
Funnily, I don't mind double carbing WITH the pie, but I've seen pie fillings featuring rice and I think that is a carb too far.
- 15 March 2010 at 17:24
- Nick Weston said...
Nice! Met a chap today who said you should always put anchovies in a steak and kidney pie...oysters too apparently, but i think i might try it with anchovies!
- 15 March 2010 at 18:46
- chocolatecup said...
i love pie! i have only made sweet pies though! a bit afraid to venture into savoury pie like this (quiches are not counted) but yours looks wonderful.
oh p.s i loved before sunrise and before sunset too:) sunset abit more than sunrise.
- 15 March 2010 at 19:30
- PFx said...
- 15 March 2010 at 20:53
- CP said...
Thanks. I've been looking for a good Beef & Guiness Pie recipe and this seems to fit the bill.
- 16 March 2010 at 03:59
- Lu said...
that is an awesome looking pie indeed! I had a terrible beef and guinness down the pub at the weekend - tasted mostly of bisto - I was very sad! Yours looks great I've never cooked with shin, must try it
- 16 March 2010 at 12:05
- matt said...
ohhh lordy this looks good. Seriously good. Great crust you have there too mate I have to say.
I love meat pies, just love them. The combination of beef and stout is a win-win for me too - I bet that shin is really flavorful too.
Great writing, recipe, and photos as usual mate. You have one of the best blogs out there.
- 16 March 2010 at 17:22
- Just Cook It said...
Foodycat - Triple or even quad carbing is wrong. Just plain wrong.
Nick - I've seen oysters done, classic old school fayre but never anchovies. Might be worth a go...
Chocolatecup - Go for it. Worth trying definitely. The films are true classics. Thanks for the comment
PFx - Thanks!
CP - Just in time for St. Patrick's Day too
Lu - Bisto has no place in the kitchen, let alone a pie! Shame.
Matt - thanks so much, really appreciate it. Is now a good time to admit it was the GF that made the pastry? The crust is all her
- 17 March 2010 at 12:11
- Sam said...
Beef and stout pie has to be one of my all time favourites, yours looks fantastic! I love the presentation.
P.S. I've just been watching you on Masterchef, you did great!
- 17 March 2010 at 20:50
- Claudia said...
Pie looks amazing - will definitely be trying that!
You did great on Masterchef - your food looked delicious!
- 7 April 2010 at 21:22
- Top rated coffee maker said...
Just by looking at the picture made my mouth water. I hope I can be able to serve this during the weekend on our small family reunion. I am sure everyone will love it. Thanks a lot for sharing. Kudos to yoU!
- 3 December 2010 at 15:29
- MrsDaisyP said...
Hi Alex. The recipe looks great, and I'm going to give it a crack tonight. I would love to try the onion gravy as well. Do you have a recommended recipe for it?
- 1 April 2017 at 03:02


text:
MIDDLETON — A Farmington man accused of striking two vehicles while driving under the influence last July, and then allegedly driving into a woman when she got out of her vehicle following the accident, has been indicted on several felony-level counts.
Daniel Beauvais, 55, of 208 Main St., Farmington, has been indicted on four Class B felony counts of reckless conduct and one Class B misdemeanor of driving under the influence.
According to court documents, Beauvais was driving under the influence of liquor the night of July 22, 2012, when he allegedly caused two accidents. One involved him reportedly crashing into a 2012 Suzuki GSXR motorcycle with one occupant near 147 Silver St. The other involved a Volkswagen Beetle with two occupants inside on Nicola Road.
The male motorcyclist fell to the ground after the crash, constituting one of the reckless conduct charges, where Beauvais allegedly used his motor vehicle, a 2010 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck, in a manner constituting use of a deadly weapon, court documents say.
The indictment papers also indicate Beauvais, after allegedly striking the Beetle, drove his vehicle into the female driver who got out following the crash and stood in the roadway. For placing the female driver and her female passenger in harm's away by allegedly causing the crash, Beauvais has been indicted on two reckless conduct charges. The final reckless conduct charge stems from him allegedly colliding with the female driver outside her car.
Beauvais has been released on $1,000 personal recognizance bail and is ordered to have no contact with the alleged victims of the incident, to possess no firearms, weapons or ammunition, to refrain from using alcohol, to use no illicit drugs and to not drive until his license is restored by the Department of Motor Vehicles, unless he has a valid license.
The Strafford County Attorney's office previously requested an extension in the case last November, stating officials needed additional time to complete a follow-up investigation before presenting the matter before a grand jury, to include time for forensic testing as well.
Beauvais has an arraignment scheduled for Jan. 31 in Strafford County Superior Court. Class B felonies carry a three-and-a-half to seven year prison sentence and a $4,000 fine each. The misdemeanor charge for driving under the influence carries a $1,500 fine.
An indictment is not an indication of guilt; rather, it means a grand jury found sufficient evidence to warrant a trial.


text:
This new poster for Marvel's Captain America: The First Avenger showcases a dark, brooding side to the sentinel of liberty. But then the first official high-res shot of him in his full costume looks bright and cheerful, as you'd expect from the optimistic hero of the Greatest Generation.
Click both images to enlarge. [Marvel and Empire via SuperheroHype]
But this image is a bit less happy looking.
Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter
Red Skull and the Cosmic Cube, plus first glimpse of Tommy Lee Jones as Col. Phillips
Captain America gets shirty


text:
The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) is a global organization, composed of both cocoa producing and cocoa consuming member countries. Now located in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, the ICCO was established in 1973 to put into effect the first International Cocoa Agreement which was negotiated in Geneva at a United Nations International Cocoa Conference. There have since been seven Agreements. The Seventh International Cocoa Agreement, negotiated in 2010 in Geneva, came into force provisionally in October 2012.
On 19 September 2012, the Governments of six producing countries, accounting for 43.17% of votes as set out in Annex A to the Agreement, and the Governments of consuming countries comprising the European Union and Switzerland accounting for 54.90% of votes, as set out in Annex B to the Agreement, had deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession or had notified the depositary that they would apply the Agreement provisionally when it entered into force. The Governments decided to put the International Cocoa Agreement 2010 into force provisionally among themselves in whole as of 1 October 2012.
The two most important breakthroughs of the present International Cocoa Agreement were the establishment of an explicit mandate on a Sustainable World Cocoa Economy and the founding of the Consultative Board on the World Cocoa Economy.
The Consultative Board consists of international experts in the cocoa sector, from the private sector and from civil society (from both cocoa producing Member countries and from cocoa consuming Member countries). However, the Board, whose mandate is as extensive as that of the International Cocoa Council and comprises all aspects of the world cocoa economy, only functions in an advisory capacity, as all final decisions are taken by the International Cocoa Council. The Consultative Board was established in recognition of the importance of the private sector in the world cocoa economy and of the increasingly important role that trade and industry have been playing in ICCO.
The mandate of the International Cocoa Organization is to work towards a sustainable world cocoa economy. The concept of "sustainability" encompasses social, economic and environmental dimensions in both production and consumption. This includes work on customs tariffs on cocoa bean imports, cocoa semi-products and chocolate; (indirect) taxes related to cocoa consumption and processing; production costs in different countries and regions; market information for cocoa farmers; and Price Risk Management for farmers through co-operatives.
Remunerative prices and higher incomes for cocoa farmers are an essential element within the context of sustainability, as, without this, meaningful sustainability cannot be achieved.
Market transparency has been a vital concern for the ICCO for more than 30 years. It is indispensable for the efficient functioning of the world cocoa market, mitigating price fluctuations, optimizing decisions by all market participants and improving the incomes of small cocoa farmers. Since its establishment in 1973, one of ICCO's major activities in this area has been the collection, processing and publication of cocoa statistics (production, prices, stocks, consumption, etc.). The Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics produced by ICCO is the most authoritative source of cocoa statistics in the world.
ICCO's work, related to sustainable cocoa production and consumption, includes: the co-ordination and rationalization of production policies and programmes of cocoa producing countries, the improvement of knowledge available on cocoa resources in producing countries, the compilation of an inventory on the health and nutritional attributes of cocoa and chocolate and the generic promotion of cocoa and chocolate consumption in emerging markets.
During the past decade, ICCO has initiated and supervised a number of projects in the cocoa sector with emphasis on the development of cocoa production and trade, as well as on the improvement of the income position of smallholder cocoa farmers. The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) has been the major source of external financing for these projects. Over the years, the CFC has provided financing for a variety of projects, including: the Utilization and Conservation of Cocoa Germplasm, the development of molecular markers to fight Witches' Broom Disease of cocoa, the distinction between Fine and Bulk cocoa, the Generic Promotion of Cocoa Consumption in Japan, the Improvement of Cocoa Marketing and Trade and the use of Cocoa By-products.
Projects developed and under development since the implementation of the Sixth International Cocoa Agreement address explicitly the objective of achieving a sustainable world cocoa economy. For example, a "Total Quality" project has been devised to improve the cocoa supply chain and achieve traceability back to the village level. A project proposal has also been developed on cocoa-based agro-forestry in Latin America, building on an existing traditional extensive cocoa cultivation system, the so called "Cacau Cabruca System". A successor project to the cocoa germplasm project has been developed, aiming at the selection and distribution of improved planting material. Recently, a pilot project was initiated to introduce Price Risk Management for cocoa farmers through co-operatives.
To complement its mandate of working towards a sustainable world cocoa economy, ICCO also functions as a centre to address matters of importance in the world cocoa economy in conjunction with governments and the private sector. These include the use of food grade jute bags, the presence of Ochratoxin A in cocoa, issues involving the worst cases of the use of child labour and maximum residue levels for pesticides.


text:
Which Is the Better Insulation Material?
|Areas of Science
Materials Science
|Time Required
|Average (6-10 days)
|Material Availability
|Readily available
|Low ($20 - $50)
|No issues
AbstractYou've probably noticed that the price of gasoline has been going up and up lately. Heating oil will probably cost more this winter than last winter, too. Using good insulation material is one way to conserve energy and save money. What insulation materials work better than others?
The objective of this project is to see which of a variety of materials that are commonly used in home construction acts as the better insulator against heat.
Share your story with Science Buddies!Yes, I Did This Project! Please log in (or create a free account) to let us know how things went.
Andrew Olson, Ph.D., Science Buddies
- Phillips, D.A., 2003. Which Is the Better Insulation Material? California State Science Fair Abstract. Retrieved October 25, 2006.
Cite This PageGeneral citation information is provided here. Be sure to check the formatting, including capitalization, for the method you are using and update your citation, as needed.
MLA Style
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Last edit date: 2020-07-08
When the weather turns colder in the wintertime, you put on an extra layer (or two!) of clothes before you go outside to keep warm. The extra clothing helps to conserve your body heat so that you don't get cold. It acts as an insulating layer around you, resisting the flow of heat to the cooler outside air.
Buildings need insulation, too, to resist heat flow out of the building during cold winter months, and to resist heat flow into the building during hot summer months.
"Heating and cooling ("space conditioning") account for 50 to 70% of the energy used in the average American home. About 20% goes for heating water. On the other hand, lighting and appliances and everything else account for only 10 to 30% of the energy used in most residences" (DOE, 2002a). You know you can save electricity by turning off lights, televisions, computers, and other appliances when they are not being used, but what if you could do something about the bigger part of home energy use—heating and cooling? What is the best insulation material to make the heat stay inside the house in the winter time?
Insulation materials are characterized by their resistance to heat flow, commonly referred to as the "R-value" for the material. In this experiment you'll make an insulation sandwich between two boards, and measure the temperature difference between the two boards as you heat one side with a hair dryer. Which insulation material will work best to resist the flow of heat from one board to the other?
Terms and Concepts
To do this project, you should do research that enables you to understand the following terms and concepts:
- thermal insulation,
- building insulation,
- different methods of heat transfer,
- radiative,
- conductive, and
- convective;
- thermal resistance, or R-value.
- What does "R-value" measure?
- Can you explain the differences between radiative, conductive, and convective heat transfer?
- DOE, 2002a. Insulation Fact Sheet, Department of Energy. Retrieved October 25, 2006.
- Wikipedia contributors, 2006. Thermal Insulation, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 25, 2006.
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Materials and Equipment
- Two pieces of 1/2-inch plywood, about 12" × 12"
- 12" × 12" samples of various insulation materials for testing, e.g.:
- Fiberglass
- Rock wool
- Cellulose
- Polyurethane foam
- Extruded polystyrene foam (XPS)
- Expanded polystyrene foam (EPS or beadboard)
- Polyisocyanurate foam
- Vermiculite
- C-clamps (2)
- Hair dryer
- Infrared thermometer with a laser pointer so you can aim it accurately, such as this one from Amazon.com.
- A helper
Disclaimer: Science Buddies participates in affiliate programs with Home Science Tools, Amazon.com, Carolina Biological, and Jameco Electronics. Proceeds from the affiliate programs help support Science Buddies, a 501(c)(3) public charity, and keep our resources free for everyone. Our top priority is student learning. If you have any comments (positive or negative) related to purchases you've made for science projects from recommendations on our site, please let us know. Write to us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Experimental Procedure
- Do your background research so that you are knowledgeable about the terms, concepts, and questions.
- Decide which types of insulation material you want to test, and purchase samples. Try to find at least four different materials to test. Which material do you think will perform best at resisting the flow of heat?
- To test the different insulation materials, you will sandwich each material between the two pieces of plywood, using the clamps to hold the insulation in place.
- Test one material at a time.
- Use just enough pressure to hold the insulation in place without compressing it.
- For a fair comparison of the materials, use the same thickness of each material when testing. Stack up thinner materials to the same thickness as your thickest material. (What happens to the effective R-value when you stack up multiple layers of an insulating material?)
- Measure the ambient temperature, and the temperature of each of the plywood pieces, and record the results in your lab notebook.
- Heat one of the plywood pieces with the hair dryer for 15–20 minutes. Keep the hair dryer moving slowly in the same pattern across the board, and keep it at the same distance from the board.
- At regular time points (e.g., every 2–3 minutes), measure the temperature of the heated piece of plywood and the temperature of the second piece of plywood. Take the measurement at the same place each time, in the center of the board. Record the results in your lab notebook.
- Unclamp the plywood, remove the insulation, and allow the boards to cool back to ambient temperature. Then repeat the measurements with the next insulation material.
- As a control, use an air gap (no insulation) between the boards as one of your conditions. Use two wood blocks that are the same thickness as your test insulation materials to hold the plywood boards the right distance apart. It would be best if the wood grain of the blocks is oriented parallel to the surface of the plywood boards, to minimize heat conduction through the blocks.
- For each insulation material, make graphs showing how the temperatures of the heated board and the unheated board changed over time. The insulating material that performs best will show the greatest temperature difference. Did the results match your expectations? Why or why not?
- Calculate the temperature difference between the heated and unheated boards for each insulation material. Make a graph of this temperature difference (y-axis) vs. the effective R-value of each insulation material. (Remember to adjust the R-value if you stack multiple layers!) What relationship do you find between temperature difference and effective R-value?
- Which insulating material had the best price/performance ratio?
If you like this project, you might enjoy exploring these related careers:
Weatherization Installer or TechnicianHouses are made up of walls, doors, windows, ducts, and attics. Our lives are centered around the rooms where we eat, sleep, and spend time with our friends and family. But, while walls, doors, windows, and ducts shelter us, they can also cost money in wasted energy. If any of these things "leak"—if they are not sealed tight or insulated—your house can be subject to changes in the weather, becoming too hot in summer or too cold in winter. In either case, keeping a "leaky" house comfortable can make the air-conditioning system or heating system work harder than necessary. Weatherization installers or technicians work on the homes of their clients to insulate, stop any potential leaks, and make their clients' homes more energy efficient and comfortable. This is a green career that combines mechanical skills with helping people. Read more
Energy EngineerHow much energy do you think all the houses and buildings in the United States consume? It turns out they eat up 40% of all the energy that the U.S. uses in a year. The figure is high because all those houses and buildings need to be heated, cooled, lit, ventilated, and supplied with heated water and electricity to run all sorts of electrical devices, appliances, and computers. Energy efficiency engineers help reduce the energy that houses and buildings use. This saves families and businesses money, and lowers the emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Read more
- The Department of Energy's Insulation Fact points out that how installation is installed can greatly effect how well it performs. For example, "insulation that is compressed will not give you its full rated R-value." (DOE, 2002a). Use the C-clamps to compress insulation between the plywood boards. How is heat transfer affected when the insulation is compressed? Do you get the same results for all types of insulation? Why or why not?
Share your story with Science Buddies!Yes, I Did This Project! Please log in (or create a free account) to let us know how things went.
Ask an ExpertThe Ask an Expert Forum is intended to be a place where students can go to find answers to science questions that they have been unable to find using other resources. If you have specific questions about your science fair project or science fair, our team of volunteer scientists can help. Our Experts won't do the work for you, but they will make suggestions, offer guidance, and help you troubleshoot.
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